. >>> disaster in japan, the heartbreaking story of a family torn apart by the continuing nuclear crisis at the fukushima nuclear plant. >>> we the people, big news tonight for some of the largest cities in america, and what it says about all of us. >>> and "making a difference." a woman on a mission to fight the battle of the bulge, one entire town at a time. "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> good evening, with cruise missiles and air strikes reigning down on his country, moammar gadhafi has not only survived any of the strikes that might have landed near him, tonight he appeared on libyan tv in front of a crowd of supporters in tripoli, vowing to be victorious in the end. the u.s. lost a jet there today, an older fighter jet, mechanical failure they say, and not a shootdown. both pilots are okay. but it could have ended much differently. and in the beginning stages still of this so far u.s.-led attack, a lot of people are wondering how this ends. we begin tonight with our pentagon correspondent jim miklaszewski. jim, good evening? >> reporter: